South Africa has found itself at the center of a diplomatic storm following the United States’ controversial move to bar Pretoria from participating in the 2026 G20 Summit, which will be hosted in Miami. Despite this unprecedented exclusion, South African officials have made it clear they will not retaliate by calling for a boycott of the US-hosted summit, instead urging fellow G20 members to defend the principles of multilateralism and to ensure that Africa’s priorities remain on the global agenda.
The tensions erupted after President Donald Trump’s administration announced South Africa would not be invited to the 2026 G20 Summit, citing what he described as "anti-American" policies and, according to multiple reports including IOL and Daily Maverick, the discredited claim of a "white genocide" against Afrikaners in South Africa. Trump’s decision also followed the US boycott of the Johannesburg G20 Leaders’ Summit last month, which he called "a total disgrace." The US did not send any representatives to the Johannesburg summit, further deepening the rift.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya addressed journalists at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Monday, December 15, 2025, to clarify South Africa’s position. "We are not going to ask countries to boycott G20 meetings and G20 processes. We were against the US boycott and we will not promote any form of boycott," Magwenya stated, as reported by News24 and IOL. He emphasized that South Africa remains a founding and full member of the G20 and that exclusionary actions by any member threaten the consensus-driven nature of the group.
"We have strongly asserted that we don’t need to be invited to G20 meetings. We are a full member of the G20. We are a founding member of the G20. Secondly, what the US is seeking to do is an affront to multilateralism, and it must be challenged and it must be rejected by all members of the G20," Magwenya said, according to Daily Maverick. He added, "We have encouraged members to express quite strongly their own views as they’ve expressed to us their support as well as their rejection of the US’ position and decision in this regard, which was taken unilaterally in a body that takes decisions through consensus."
The exclusion of South Africa from the US-hosted G20 summit has drawn criticism from several other G20 nations, with some expressing opposition to what they view as a unilateral and undemocratic move. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has been engaging other G20 members, urging them to voice their positions openly. "Many have communicated support for our stance and rejection of Washington’s decision. This is about defending multilateralism itself," Magwenya explained, as noted in IOL’s coverage.
South Africa’s approach, however, is not to escalate tensions by advocating for a boycott but to focus on ensuring that the priorities championed during its own G20 presidency—inequality, poverty alleviation, and climate change—remain central to the group’s agenda. "Our focus remains on championing the critical issues debated in Johannesburg, ensuring they remain firmly on the G20 agenda, regardless of US approval," Magwenya said. He further noted that these issues are not only vital for Africa but are essential for the world at large.
South Africa is also working to ensure these priorities are carried forward in other international forums. Magwenya revealed that Pretoria is in discussions with G7 members to see that issues like poverty reduction, climate action, and equitable development gain traction in that influential bloc as well. French President Emmanuel Macron, who will assume the G7 presidency next year, is seen as a potential ally in advancing these goals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, closing out the Johannesburg summit, reaffirmed Pretoria’s commitment to engagement, stating, "We will again be in the US for the summit." Despite being barred from official participation, this statement signals South Africa’s intention to remain actively involved in global economic governance and not to retreat in the face of adversity.
Meanwhile, the G20 Sherpa meeting took place in Washington on December 15, 2025, marking the first gathering under the US G20 presidency. At least some G20 members were expected to raise objections to South Africa’s exclusion, with Pretoria having asked that America’s "aggression" against it be placed on the agenda, according to News24.
South Africa’s diplomatic balancing act extends beyond the G20 controversy. At the same media briefing, Magwenya addressed several pressing domestic and international issues. He confirmed that the preliminary report of the Madlanga Commission would be released within the week, though it would not yet be made public; the final report, he assured, would be available to the public.
Magwenya also discussed the plight of South Africans reportedly trapped in the Russia-Ukraine war after being lured into conflict—an issue reportedly involving former MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla. "The process to retrieve those young men remains a very sensitive process. They are in a dangerous environment. They are facing grave, grave danger to their lives," Magwenya said, as cited by Daily Maverick. The government is actively engaging Russian authorities to secure their safe return.
On the economic front, Communications Minister Solly Malatsi’s recent directives to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) have sparked debate. Malatsi instructed Icasa to reconsider local ownership rules that require foreign ICT companies, such as Elon Musk’s Starlink, to cede 30% ownership to local entities in order to operate in South Africa. The move, intended to accelerate licensing for new service providers, has drawn criticism from some ANC members, including Malatsi’s own deputy minister, who argue it undermines transformation efforts. Magwenya defended Malatsi’s actions as lawful and emphasized that any changes must adhere strictly to existing legal frameworks. "The law is quite clear with respect to the local ownership element for those seeking to be licensed as telecommunications and network services providers, and so that’s what the minister is doing," Magwenya explained. He added that Icasa, as an independent regulator, would have to exercise its judgment independently and in accordance with the law.
As the dust settles on this diplomatic dispute, South Africa’s government appears determined to take the high road—eschewing tit-for-tat boycotts in favor of defending multilateralism and advocating for the continent’s priorities on the world stage. Whether this approach will sway other G20 members or lead to a reversal of the US decision remains to be seen, but Pretoria’s commitment to engagement and principle is unmistakable.
